IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
July 11, 2005

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Gathering

John called the meeting to order @ 7:14 p.m.  John (Management Committee) provided devotions.

Preparing

Review of Previous Council Minutes:

Approval of the June 6, 2005 minutes:

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Dan Landry:

TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 6, 2005 COUNCIL MEETING, NOTING THAT ORV ERICKSON PROVIDED THE MINUTES AND BILL PAULINS WAS ABSENT.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Treasurer's Report:

Nathan reviewed the June 2005 Treasurer's Report noting that our deficit has been reduced by approximately $2,200.00.   Additionally, we received a $1,200 donation toward replacing the ductwork in the lower level.  We noted that all funeral expenses/income should be grouped into one line item in the future.  Many of the line items can be combined into single entries to eliminate too many items.  The excess balance will be rolled back into the general fund.

MOTION by Matt Cermak, SECONDED by Orv Erickson

            TO APPROVE THE JUNE TREASURER'S REPORT AS WRITTEN.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Committee Reports:

John reminded the Council that written reports are required from each committee. Please make sure to remind committees to get these reports to Denise in the office.

Health Ministries: Provided a Parish Nurse Summary, no Council action required.

Management:  Written report, no Council action required.

Outreach: Written report, no Council action required.   

Parish Education: No written report, no Council action required. 

Property: Written report, no Council action required.  They are investigating purchase of “bump blocks” for 501 parking lot, as well as “white topping” that parking lot.  They will get back with us on costs involved.

Stewardship: No written report, no Council action required.

Youth: No written report, no Council action required.  

Worship: No written report, no Council action required.

Memorial & Special Gifts: No written report, no Council action required.

Pastor Rick: No Council action required. 

Serving

Correspondence:

Mary Gehlhaar requested an opportunity to discuss with the Council the concerns of the Property Committee regarding allowing Teresa Barcy to use the kitchen in a for-profit capacity.   

She reviewed the Kitchen Policy, and her concerns that we are a non-profit organization, and cannot be a profit center (per Management Committee ruling).  Mary discussed her concerns with Larry Kruth from Management Committee, that unless Management changes the kitchen use policy, she cannot allow Teresa to use the kitchen, as it violates the existing policies.  Mary was also concerned that Teresa didn’t go through the proper channels – she should have taken her request through the Property Committee instead of going directly to Council. 

John reviewed the Council minutes of June 2005 where the motion was approved to allow Teresa to use the facilities.  The minutes reflect the conversation that we agreed that this reflects a change in policy, and the management committee will be responsible for the contractual arrangement, and we are also requesting that they review this procedure and create an updated procedure.  This will include addressing a congregation member who shares her gifts, etc.

Fred is concerned and believes that the decision is wrong, as it is the first time in history that this church has allowed a profit-making venture in our church.  He believes that before Council made a decision, it should have been referred back to the Property Committee. 

John will follow-up with Management Committee as instructed in the June minutes, to make certain that they correspond accordingly with the Property Committee.

We recognize that we have moved away from the not-for-profit arena, and we are now open to considering other alternatives, albeit closely tied to our congregation.

More discussion is that we need to continually keep communication in the forefront of all of our discussions.  It is not our intent to be changing our policies without communication of the appropriate committees.  It is important that Council members keep their committee members informed of actions occurring at the Council level.  We will continue to keep this thought in future discussions.

We received correspondence from Cindy Foy, requesting that her cub scout den from Greenwood School would like to set up a booth/table in the parking lot shuttle area at Immanuel to benefit little kids that will be waiting for the Art Fair shuttle.  We would like to do face painting/stamping, small games (duck pond, bean bag toss, pick the colored sucker, etc.), and sell kid stuff like ooey gooey, sidewalk chalk, playdoh (all homemade by our pack families) for a small price, to raise money for our pack.  We would like to raise money through different fundraisers to take the boys to Silversides in Muskegon to stay overnight on a Submarine, possibly this fall or next spring.”

MOTION from Dan Landry, SECONDED by Bill Paulins:

BARRING ANY CONFLICT, AND CONFIRMING THAT ADEQUATE SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE IN EFFECT, ALLOW THIS CUB SCOUT PACK TO SET UP A BOOTH/TABLE IN THE GRASS AREA AROUND OUR PARKING LOT DURING THE ISLAND ART FAIR.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

It was agreed that we would run this request past Bob & Ruth Buckley.  Denise will advise them.

Bob Carter has tendered his resignation to the Council, effective immediately.  Various Council members will contact Bob to attempt to persuade him to reconsider his decision.  We need him on this Council!

We need a motion to approve Pastor LeRoy Beck to celebrate Holy Communion on August 21, 2005.

MOTION by Orv Erickson, SECONDED by Mike Proper:

TO APPROVE PASTOR LEROY BECK TO LEAD SERVICES, PREACH THE WORD AND CELEBRATE THE SACRAMENT AT IMMANUEL ON AUGUST 21, 2005.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED

The Grand Ledge Public Schools Journalism Group would like to use our facilities for a car wash on July 30 and August 20, 2005.

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED Dan Landry:

TO ALLOW THE GRAND LEDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS JOURNALISM GROUP TO USE OUR PARKING LOT FOR A CAR WASH ON JULY 30 AND AUGUST 20, 2005.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

We also received correspondence from Lee & Sandra Bair, thanking us for the opportunity to represent Immanuel Lutheran Church at the North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly on May 20-22, 2005.

Old Business:

Property Evaluation Taskforce: This is an ongoing area of attention, and we will continue to address regularly.

New Business:

Financial

Discussion of draft letter to congregation.  John provided a draft of a letter that will be sent to our members this week.  The intent of this letter is to explain our financial condition, and request their suggestions toward an improvement in this area.  We all supported this letter.

Mike Proper & Matt Cermak are working on reviewing our Constitution and Bylaws, in preparation for our Mission Driven Project change.

Reference to church planning calendar for July, August and September, 2005.  Management Committee has Council devotions and announcements at the 10:30 service on communion Sundays and communion assistants for July, Health Ministry has the same responsibilities for August, and the Stewardship Committee has the responsibilities in September.

Our next regular meeting is scheduled for August 1, 2005.

MOTION by Dan Landry, SECONDED by Barb Paulins:

            TO ADJOURN

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 8:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Note: Copies of committee minutes and reports, as referred to in the Council Minutes, can be obtained in the church office.